Farewell, Alex: conceited, boomer (cartoon) banker
London | In October 1986, then-UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher launched her 'Big Bang' deregulation of the British economy. This propelled London, and the world, into a new era of financial sophistication – one in which traders, bankers and brokers were the new masters of the universe.
As money began to slosh through the City of London, a new social category emerged from the wash: the yuppie. Conceited, materialistic and hedonistic, this breed was ripe for satire. Sure enough, it wasn't long before the City's denizens had their own caricaturists and chroniclers: Russell Taylor and Charles Peattie, the writer and illustrator of the Alex cartoon.

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West Australian
14 hours ago
- West Australian
The US needs Australian beef for hamburgers, Littleproud says
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West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
World Gold Council working to lure artisanal miners across globe away from ‘illicit actors'
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Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
A new Eurocentric bistro and wine bar opens in Middle Park
Previous SlideNext Slide European$$$$ Following months of anticipation from Middle Park locals, restaurateur MatteoBruno (Tartine, Ned's Bake) has opened Middle Park European, an elevated diner and bar offering an Italian-leaning menu with French flourishes. Leading the (open) kitchen is British-born head chef Aaron Wrafter, who cut his teeth at the Michelin-starred, now-closed Turners, and Harborne Kitchen in Birmingham. To start, caviar 'dip' saves you having to splash out on a tin. A bed of creme fraiche is topped with Black River caviar, chives (and chive oil), and pickled shallot. There will always be two kinds of house-made pasta – perhaps a fresh tagliatelle with Shark Bay crab and bisque, and ridged shell-like cavatelli with pork-and-fennel sausage. Mainstays include fish'n'chips and steak frites (porterhouse, say, with tarragon butter), while a specials board will introduce new dishes every couple of weeks.